--- title: "Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi: How Cloud-Managed Wireless Works" description: "Meraki cloud Wi-Fi explained: how cloud-managed wireless works, what stays on your network, what happens if the internet drops, and when it suits you." --- [Blog](https://blog.iptel.com.au) # [Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi: How Cloud-Managed Wireless Works](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-cloud-wifi) Written by [Mark McSherry](https://blog.iptel.com.au/author/mark-mcsherry) | 1 August 2025, 3:57:31 am Z Cisco Meraki is a cloud-based networking technology. Wi-Fi is one aspect in the product set, but it also includes cameras, switching and security appliances. In this blog, we'll take a look at some of the advantages offered by the Meraki platform.  As a cloud-based technology, the first thing you notice with Meraki is that you log in to a web dashboard to configure the equipment - the config is then pushed down to the device, so you can configure devices in advance and the config downloads as soon as the device connects to the internet.  Related reading - [Cisco Meraki Dashboard](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-dashboard) - [Cisco Meraki](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-meraki) - [Cisco Meraki Wireless Overview](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-wireless-overview) - [Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-cloud-wifi) ## Meraki: Cloud First with no Controller Previously, it was necessary to use a physical controller (using rack space, power, cooling and probably hardware redundancy) to provide seamless wireless connectivity. With Meraki, everything is controlled and managed in the cloud and the only thing that is required to provide Wi-Fi is the AP.   Ideal for branch-based business models, where it is difficult to justify the effort and expense of installing and maintaining a controller for one, or even a handful of branches. Cisco's FlexConnect can solve this problem, but it doesn't stand up to the ease of deployment and manageability that Meraki provides.  Controller-based deployment required APs to be pre-commissioned before installing onsite, in order to avoid issues down the line if an AP doesn't join its controller when it is on the ceiling. This meant booting an AP at a staging location, providing controller information and packing it back in the box.  Related reading - [Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-cloud-wifi) - [Meraki Made Simple: Meet Dave](https://blog.iptel.com.au/blog/meraki-made-simple-meet-dave) ## Meraki Dashboard With Meraki, as soon as an order is received, devices can be registered in the dashboard, configured and  sent directly to site - no need to spin them up for staging. They patch into an existing switch and receive their configuration as soon as they have internet connectivity to the Meraki cloud. User traffic can be switched locally, NAT'd using the AP's IP address, or tunnelled to a central concentration point for filtering and monitoring.  Related reading - [Cisco Meraki Access Points](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-access-points) - [Cisco Meraki Switching](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-switching) ## Meraki Auto Mesh Nifty feature: Meraki APs will form a mesh link to other Meraki APs in their network when they cannot establish a connection to the Meraki cloud. Even if a nearby Meraki AP is not in its network, it will communicate to the foreign AP that it cannot reach the dashboard, and its diagnostic information will be relayed to the appropriate Dashboard network. An example of this is when a cable is faulty and there is enough integrity to power the AP, but not enough to transmit data over the wire. The Meraki AP will alert and notify that it cannot reach the Meraki cloud over the wired link.   As soon as your Meraki AP can communicate with the Meraki cloud, it will start serving clients, while providing visibility into the health of the wireless network.  ## Wi-Fi Performance Here's a quick snapshot of the dashboard and the view below shows the 12 hour snapshot of network Wi-Fi performance:  Related reading - [Cisco Meraki Dashboard](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-dashboard) ## Live RF Spectrum Analysis Another interesting feature is the ability to look at the RF spectrum live.  The image below shows a screenshot of this - a great way to easily (and remotely) determine if there's a lot of noise or other interference causing issues with the network: Related reading - [Meraki Site-Site VPN](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-site-to-site-vpn) - [Meraki Managed Service: Inside the MSP Dashboard](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-managed-service) ## Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi: FAQs ### What Is Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi? Meraki cloud Wi-Fi uses access points that are configured and monitored from the Meraki Dashboard in the cloud, so there is no on-site wireless controller to buy, patch or maintain. ### Does My Data Go Through the Meraki Cloud? No. User traffic stays on your local network. Only management and monitoring data, such as configuration and statistics, is exchanged with the Meraki cloud. ### What Happens if the Internet Connection Drops? The access points keep serving clients with their current configuration. You can't change settings in the dashboard until the connection returns. ### Is Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi Licensed? Yes. Each access point needs a Meraki licence, which covers the dashboard, software updates and support for the licence term. ## Cisco Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi: Summary The summary with Meraki is pretty simple. That's the summary - it's pretty simple :-). Meraki offers a friendly user experience, so everyone from novice to experienced users can get something out of the system. Meraki really lends itself to installs where the engineers can remotely (and in advance) configure all the equipment and ship the equipment directly to site. This allows for a really efficient process prior to attending site. With a range of networking components in the Meraki suite, it can provide an end-to-end networking experience. The best bit?  Meraki is all GUI driven straight from a web browser. Related reading - [Meraki Cloud Wi-Fi](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-cloud-wifi) - [Meraki Managed Service: Inside the MSP Dashboard](https://blog.iptel.com.au/meraki-managed-service) - [Cisco Meraki Access Points](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-access-points) - [Cisco Meraki Switching](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-switching) - [Cisco Meraki Dashboard](https://blog.iptel.com.au/cisco-meraki-dashboard) If you're after a few tips and tricks in the Wi-Fi space, have a look at our [Top 8 Secrets to Great Wi-Fi eBook.](https://blog.iptel.com.au/top-8-secrets-to-great-wi-fi) ### Need Help With Meraki Wi-Fi? IPTel designs and manages [Cisco Meraki](https://iptel.com.au/technologies/cisco-meraki) wireless, starting with a proper [Wi-Fi survey](https://iptel.com.au/services/wi-fi-surveys). If that would be useful, [get in touch with the IPTel team](https://iptel.com.au/contact-us) or email [sales@iptel.com.au](mailto:sales@iptel.com.au). ## Meraki Made Simple: Meet Dave Want to hear more about Meraki? Meet Dave. Dave is an IT Manager with an ever-growing list of requirements from his network. Dave has a lot of network challenges and a lot of new devices and applications to look after.   In this short video, we explore how Dave can tame his network, reduce costs, centrally manage AND add functionality to his network.    If you're interested to hear more about how Meraki can help your business, email us at [sales@iptel.com.au](mailto:sales@iptel.com.au) or complete our [Request a Quote](https://iptel.com.au/request-a-quote) form, if you're ready for some pricing. 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